Town Player of the Year Tommy Smith has extended his Blues’ contract until June 2016. The New Zealand international, 23, was previously tied down until the summer of 2014.

Smith, who met with joint-managing director Jonathan Symonds to put pen to paper on his new terms this morning, told the club site: “I’m delighted to extend my stay at Town.

“It’s great that the club have shown loyalty with me and that I’ve shown my loyalty to the club as well.

“I’ve been here since I was 16 years old and I love the club. Hopefully, I can be here for a few more years to come and we can be successful.

“The club means a lot to me and I’ve developed a great relationship with the fans. It’s also great to see players coming out of the academy and into the first team, like myself, Luke Hyam and Josh Carson.”

The Macclesfield-born centre-half lived in New Zealand between the ages of eight and 16. Having spent his school holidays training at Playford Road and lining up for the Blues' U16s, Smith was handed a two-year scholarship in March 2006, starting that summer.

Having spent time on loan at Stevenage in the second half of 2007/08 Smith made his Town first team debut on the opening day of the following season, a 2-1 home defeat to Preston. A broken ankle sustained in training saw him miss all but the final game of that campaign.

Further loan spells at Brentford and Colchester followed as Smith was in and out of the Town first team under Roy Keane and Paul Jewell's management.

Smith swept most of Town’s Player of the Year awards last season having formed an outstanding central defensive partnership with Luke Chambers in the months after Mick McCarthy took over as boss.

He has now made 104 starts and eight sub appearances for the Blues, scoring 10 goals, as well as winning 22 caps, including all three games at the 2010 World Cup, and scoring two goals for the All Whites.

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

DiamondGezzer added 14:38 - May 23 Considering how many doubters the boy had [ and no, I was not one of them ], must make this contract all the more special, it hasn't just been handed to him, he has worked damned hard and the results all to plain to see. Good luck to you Thomas, you deserve it !
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gazzmac4 added 14:45 - May 23 Best news since the new kit's were released! Which was yesterday! Tomorrow's stories have a high benchmark to try to reach now dont they!
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ManningtreeBlue99 added 14:56 - May 23 Future captain for sure! Once Carlos and Chambo are past it
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TractorBeezer added 15:13 - May 23 Brilliant news. Well done Tommy and ITFC!
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Stato added 15:28 - May 23 Great. Now do the same with cresswell please
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TractorCam added 15:32 - May 23 Great to hear, COYB
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suffolkgills added 15:34 - May 23 Congratulations and well deserved Tommy after an excellent season !! Great move by Mick to get it sorted out this early,must trust the lad which is really good news !!
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peteswindon added 15:44 - May 23 This is really scarry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have extended a contract on one of our top players rather then letting it run out and the player leaving for nothing. god forbid this could be the start of a trend.
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Cageyblue added 16:06 - May 23 Water on the table in the Board Room. The Cobbold's will be spinning in their graves !
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renoble added 16:11 - May 23 'My smile is stuck, I cannot go back to your frownland' That's for you Botesdaleblue
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Lennyboy added 16:20 - May 23 Is it Phil Jupitus or John Candy? I don't care as he has a great smile on his face and a warm welcoming nature, as can be seen in the picture; which will be important when prospective signings are negotiating whether to come to town or not. This is a far better situation than we had under that grumpy ole sod Clegg. Great news too about Smiffy. COYB!!!
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Earl60 added 16:50 - May 23 At long last, the penny's finally dropped. We've lost too many players letting their contracts run down
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theresonlyonekeano added 17:16 - May 23 Great news! Would love to see a proper spine to the team to stay the same for a good few years, Smith must be our longest serving player?
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LankHenners added 17:20 - May 23 Get in! This shows he has loyalty and passion towards the club (and relatively young as well)- a fine example of the sort of player we want in our team!
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Taricco_Fan added 17:46 - May 23 Who's the used car salesman?
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manualthetisfanclub added 18:03 - May 23 Well done smudger, future skipper of town! Coyb
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jas0999 added 19:12 - May 23 Only commented yesterday that Smith is only one of a few of our sale-able assets! Hopefully though, he won't be going anywhere. Great news and hopefully a sign of things to come - particularly as Tabb has announced he still wants to sign. Maybe we have finally learnt our lesson re contracts? Time will tell.
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Talbs77 added 19:34 - May 23 He's been absolutely magnificent since MM and is showing all the attributes his potential predicted. He will get better as he gets older, the best is yet to come from the boy. Well done for the club tying him down for another 3 years, theres no doubt he's a great asset and potential to play at a higher level.
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Lightningboy added 19:46 - May 23 Great news for both us and Tommy..been excellent over the last 18 months and always good for a few goals a season.
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compton added 20:10 - May 23 tommy will be a rock for town and a great captain
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bohslegend added 21:24 - May 23 Dickie, I laughed :-)
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KiwiBlue2 added 21:31 - May 23 Great news. I feel another trip coming on, onwards and upwards.........
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BuckieBlue added 22:03 - May 23 Good news. Every re-signing just adds to the stability- most (every?) successful side is built on stability.
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Kapiti_Blue added 02:32 - May 24 Great news. Good on you Tommy from a fellow Kiwi Pom.
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